Portable door lock

ABSTRACT

A portable door lock having a toothed latch bar with a hook for engaging the door frame and a blocking member slidable on the latch bar for latching into the teeth to block the door from opening is improved by making the blocking member as a simple, resilient U-shaped band having overlying cross tabs extending across the ends of the U to engage the teeth. Slots are formed in both tabs and in the U-portion for receiving the latch bar, and finger grip regions on each side of the blocker allow it to be squeezed to release the tabs from the teeth.

United States Patent i ews] [54] PORTABLE DOOR LOCK l 292/292 [51] EOSc19/18 [50] 292/ 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 793,098 6/1905 Rohrer 292/292 976,444 I 1/1910 Dufault 292/292 1,627,709 5/1927 Menchen 292/292 X1,672,166 6/1928 Lockhead..... 292/292 X 3,416,333 12/1968 Weingart292/292 X Primary Examiner-James A. Leppink Assistant Examiner-Edward J.McCarthy Anorney-Cumpston, Shaw and Stephens ABSTRACT: A portable doorlock having a toothed latch bar with a hook for engaging the door frameand a blocking member slidable on the latch bar for latching into theteeth to block the door from opening is improved by making the blockingmember as a simple, resilient U-shaped band having overlying cross tabsextending across the ends of the U to engage the teeth. Slots are formedin both. tabs and in the U-portion for receiving the latch bar, andfinger grip regions on each side of the blocker allow it to be squeezedto release the tabs from the teeth.

PATENIEU AUG 3I97l 3, 596. 961

INVENTOR. AARON H- LLPPMAN ATTORNEYS M41, jZZ D PORTABLE noon LOCK THEINVENTION IMPROVEMENT Many door locks have been suggested using a latchbar that extends in between the door and the frame with a hook to engagethe frame or the edge of a hole in a striker plate secured to the frameand having a sliding blocker member that is moved up to abut against aclosed door and lock the door closed by latching into teeth on the latchbar. This invention improves on such devices by discovering a simplerand more economical way for making such a door lock. The invention alsoaims at conveniences in use, optimum adjustment, and ease andreliability of operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The inventive improvements in such door locksinclude forming the blocker as a resilient metal strip having agenerally U-shaped portion and inturned, overlying, transversetabs atthe end of the legs of the U-portion with slots formed in the tabs andthe U-portion to receive the latch bar. The foremost tab has aprojection extending toward the door on the side of the latch baropposite the hook for butting against the door without interference fromthe door frame or striker plate. The blocker strip has broad,finger-grip portions in the region of the ends of each of the legs sothat it can be squeezed to widen the overlapping portions of the slotsin the tabs, and the distal ends of such slots engage teeth on oppositesof the latch bar to hold the blocker against the door.

Drawings FIG. 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of theinventive lock;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the door lock of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway front elevation of the blocker member usedin the inventive lock; and

FIG. 4 is a partially cross-sectional view of the inventive door lock inlocking position against a door.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Door lock includes latch bar 11 and blocker 12, andlatch bar 11 has a hook 13 for engaging a door frame, and if desired, anembossing 14 to keep blocker 12 from sliding off latch bar 11. Latch bar11 also has teeth 15 and 16 formed along its opposite edges, and latchbar 11 is preferably made of a fiat strip of metal.

Blocker 12 is formed of a resilient strip of metal having a generallyU-shaped portion 17 with legs 18 and 19 forming the sides of the U.Cross-tabs 20 and 21 are inturned to overlie each other end extendtransversely across the open end of the U, as illustrated. Foremost tab21 has a projection 35 extending forward from the edge of blocker strip12 facing away from the door frame so that projection 35 is disposed onthe side of latch bar 11 opposite hook 13. Projection 35 terminates in aright-angled portion 36 that is generally parallel with a door surface.

Tabs 20 and 21 have respective slots 22 and 23 for receiving latch bar11, and another slot 24 allows latch bar 11 to extend through theU-portion 17. Relatively broad, flat, finger-grip regions 25 and 26 areformed at the forward ends of legs 13 and 19 respectively for fingers togrip and squeeze blocker 12.

In its normally assumed position illustrated in FIG. 3, the legs ofblocker l2 tend to spread open as illustrated so that the distal ends 27and 28 of slots 22 and 23 respectively are spaced apart by spaced apartby substantially less than the width of bar 11, but by squeezing fingergrip surfaces 25 and 26 together, the overlapping portions of slots 22and 23 increases, so that distal ends 27 and 28 can be separated by morethan the width of bar 11.

When blocker 12 is released, distal end 27 of slot 23 of tab 21 tends toseek a notch between teeth 15 and to bring tab 21 into abutting relationwith the forward edge of one of the teeth 15. At the same time, distaledge 28 of slot 22 in tab 20 tends to seek a notch between teeth 16 tobring tab 21) in abutting relation with the forward edge of one of theteeth 16. Such engagement latches blocker 12 onto latch bar 11 andprevents it sliding rearwardly.

A locking arrangement is illustrated in FIG. 4 where blocker 12 islatched into abutment with door 23 which is closed rela tive to frame29. Hook 13 engages the side of a hole 30 in striker plate 31 fastenedto frame 29, and blocker 12 is latched into the teeth of latch bar 11 sothat it will not move to let door 28 open. Striker plate 31 extendsoutward from frame 29 and would interfere with the seating of blocker 12against door 28 except for projection 35 extending forward from tab 21butt its right angled termination 36 firmly against door 28 without anyinterference with striker plate 31. Another feature of the inventivedoor lock that prevents it from interfering with the striker plate ordoor frame of any door is that slots 22-24 in blocker strip 12 areformed close to edge 33 of blocker 12 so that edge 33 does not extendvery far toward frame 2'9, and hook 13 extends further toward frame 29than edge 33. Then, even if trim strip 32 along door 28 on frame 29extends considerably outward, edge 33 of blocker 12 clears trim strip 32in seating against the door 28.

Successive latching positions for blocker 12 on latch bar 11 alternatebetween engagement of tab 21 with teeth 15 and tab 20 with teeth 16. Foroptimum adjustment of blocker 12 on bar 11, teeth 15 and 16 arepreferably spaced relative to each other to provide approximately equalincrements of space between such successive latch positions. Since tabs20 and 21 are in somewhat different planes, this requires that teeth 15and 16 be slightly offset relative to each other as illustrated. Thisallows maximum and optimum adjustment of blocker l2 snugly against anydoor 28.

Persons wishing to practice the invention should remember that otherembodiments and variations can be adapted to particular circumstances.Even though one point of view is necessarily chosen in describing anddefining the invention, this should not inhibit broader or relatedembodiments going beyond the semantic orientation of this applicationbut falling within the spirit of the invention. For example, differentmaterials and configurations can be used, and the inventive lock can beadapted to many specific circumstances.

Iclaim:

1. In a portable door lock having a fiat, longitudinal bar extendingbetween a door and its frame, said bar having a hook at its forward endto engage said frame and teeth formed along the side edges of theportion of said. bar extending outward from said door and frame, and ablocker arranged for sliding along said bar and latching in said teethto hold said door closed in said frame, the improvement: comprising:

a. said blocker being formed as a resilient metal strip having agenerally U-shaped portion and inturned, overlying, transverse tabs atthe ends of the legs of said U-portion;

b. said blocker strip having slots formed in each of said tabs and saidU-portion to receive said. bar;

. the forward one of said tabs having a projection extending toward saiddoor on the side of said bar opposite said hook;

(I. the distal ends of said overlapping slots in said tabs beingnormally spaced apart by substantially less than the width of said bar,and said slots in said tabs each being longer than the width of saidbar;

. said blocker strip having broad, finger-grip portions in the region ofthe end of each of the legs of said U-portion for squeezing saidU-portion to widen the overlapping portion of said slots; and

f. said distal ends of said slots being arranged to engage said teethwith said projection abutting said door.

2. The door lock of claim 1 wherein said teeth on said bar are spaced sothat successive latch positions for said blocker alternate betweenengagement of said tabs with teeth on opposite sides of said bar.

3. The door lock of claim 2 wherein said teeth on opposite edges of saidlatch bar are relatively spaced to provide approx- 3 4 imately equalincrements of space between said successive 5. The door lock of claim 1wherein said projection extends latch posltlonsfrom the edge of saidblocker strip facing away from said 4. The door lock of claim 1 whereinsaid slots in said blocker strip are in the region of the edge of saidblocker strip facing said frame so said hook extends toward said frame 5beyond said edge of said blocker strip.

frame and terminates in a right-angle portion generally parallel withthe surface of said door.

1. In a portable door lock having a flat, longitudinal bar extendingbetween a door and its frame, said bar having a hook at its forward endto engage said frame and teeth formed along the side edges of theportion of said bar extending outward from said door and frame, and ablocker arranged for sliding along said bar and latching in said teethto hold said door closed in said frame, the improvement comprising: a.said blocker being formed as a resilient metal strip having a generallyU-shaped portion and inturned, overlying, transverse tabs at the ends ofthe legs of said U-portion; b. said blocker strip having slots formed ineach of said tabs and said U-portion to receive said bar; c. the forwardOne of said tabs having a projection extending toward said door on theside of said bar opposite said hook; d. the distal ends of saidoverlapping slots in said tabs being normally spaced apart bysubstantially less than the width of said bar, and said slots in saidtabs each being longer than the width of said bar; e. said blocker striphaving broad, finger-grip portions in the region of the end of each ofthe legs of said U-portion for squeezing said U-portion to widen theoverlapping portion of said slots; and f. said distal ends of said slotsbeing arranged to engage said teeth with said projection abutting saiddoor.
 2. The door lock of claim 1 wherein said teeth on said bar arespaced so that successive latch positions for said blocker alternatebetween engagement of said tabs with teeth on opposite sides of saidbar.
 3. The door lock of claim 2 wherein said teeth on opposite edges ofsaid latch bar are relatively spaced to provide approximately equalincrements of space between said successive latch positions.
 4. The doorlock of claim 1 wherein said slots in said blocker strip are in theregion of the edge of said blocker strip facing said frame so said hookextends toward said frame beyond said edge of said blocker strip.
 5. Thedoor lock of claim 1 wherein said projection extends from the edge ofsaid blocker strip facing away from said frame and terminates in aright-angle portion generally parallel with the surface of said door.